The organization is urging church insiders to report suspected sex abuse immediately and hold the church's hierarchy responsible when it comes to removing priests.

He's reached out to Pope Francis and Cardinal Timothy Dolan for their support.

"I'm not expecting repercussions. I hope at some point, in the near future, the bishops would step up and say, 'You know, you got a point on this. Let me join you on that,'" Connell said.

Peter Isely, Midwest director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is hopeful systematic change can happen within the church when priests like Connell make a public stand.

"These individuals have already proven and demonstrated what real leadership is on this issue, and until clergy starts doing this, this is never going to get resolved," Isely said.

The archdiocese released a statement Tuesday night saying, "No priest with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor can serve in the archdiocese of Milwaukee. That's been the policy for many years."